“I love you not
only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you. I love you not
only for what you
have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me. I love you for the
part of me that you bring out.”

From John Patterson
('59) of TN - 02/09/18 - "I was born with a silver spoon":

I first met Lou Holtz in
1972 when he arrived to coach football at NC State - - he is one of the
greatest people I've met in my life - - perhaps second only to Billy Graham.
Watch this video to see what I mean, and if you need to, watch it again.

Valentine's Day is so filled with pseudo-romantic fluff that its true
meaning easily gets lost: Gratitude and appreciation for that special
someone in your life.

There's nothing wrong with flowers and pink hearts; of course, as long
as you also take some time to reflect on all the things you're grateful
for. These could include people and things in your own life, and of
course your partner if you have one. It also includes the other
important people in your life, family, friends, colleagues, and beyond.

Take some time to thank them for being in your life, and then add
something specific about them that you're grateful for. Whether it's
something they have done for you, or something about them that makes you
happy to be in their company, figure out what it is and share it with
them.

Expressing gratitude has been
shown to give people a big emotional lift. It does the same for
relationships. Gratitude and resentment or anger cannot reside in the
same place at the same time. So once you fill your heart with gratitude,
the negative emotions won't have a place to settle in and will
evaporate.

Not that this is a new and revolutionary concept. Quotes and writings
about gratitude have been plentiful for centuries.

Melodie Beattie wrote:

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into
enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, and
confusion into clarity... It turns problems into gifts, failures into
success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important
events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and
creates a vision for tomorrow."

And Wikipedia has a solid grip on the benefits of gratitude as well:

"Grateful people are happier, less depressed, less stressed, and more
satisfied with their lives and social relationships. A large body of
recent work has suggested that people who are more grateful have higher
levels of well-being. Grateful people also have higher levels of control
of their environments, personal growth, purpose in life, and
self-acceptance."

The more grateful we are, the happier we are, and the more effectively
we're able to cope with life's challenges. We even sleep better when
we're grateful.

Clearly, gratitude is something we could use more of, and the best part
is that we are able to enjoy as much of it as we like. It's completely
in our control -- and it's completely free! So find ways to add a good
dose of gratitude into your daily life.

And don't worry. You won't have to wait to be grateful until you win the
lottery. Appreciate the little things, or the things that are really
quite big but that you take for granted.

Whatever it is that you're grateful for, make a note of it. Write it
down. In fact, make a gratitude list. Simply write down all the events,
things and people for which you are thankful. Expressing gratitude and
appreciation for people in your life brings joy to both of you.

In fact, you could make a gratitude list for your Valentine! Take some
time to write down everything you appreciate about your partner and then
share it with him or her on Valentine's Day!

But don't stop there. Continue to find things you're grateful for every
single day. Make it into a regular practice.

You could begin the morning by making a list of the things for which you
are grateful. It may be your health and wellness, it may be the love you
share or abundance of finances, or perhaps it’s your home or the motor
home that takes you on many adventures! It can also be the simple things
like a bed to sleep in and clean water to be able to bathe in. By
seeking to find all the positive pieces in your life, you begin the day
with a positive attitude. What a wonderful way to get started!

Or you may prefer to give thanks for your blessings at the end of the
day, just before drifting off to sleep, by reflecting on a wonderful day
and the many things for which to be grateful. It could be the nice
person who served the coffee, not running out of gas, being acknowledged
for a job well done, having the finances to pay for a car repair, or
simply being grateful for the food you had for dinner. Gratitude comes
in many shapes and sizes, but it always makes you feel good.

A "Gratitude Journal" is another awesome way to keep track of the things
you are grateful for in your life. There are different journals on the
market, some very elaborate and others simple, but the important thing
is to start one! Like anything in your life that you wish to change, it
takes practice and repetition. It’s said that it takes 21 days to change
a habit or create a new one. Gratitude journaling is definitely a good
habit to start!

Here's one of my favorite quotes: "Yesterday is gone, tomorrow isn’t
here...so all we have is today and that is why it’s called the present!"

Think about it: How grateful are you for your present...for today and
every day of your life? Be sure to let your Valentine and everyone
around you know how much you appreciate them. And spend some time
appreciating yourself as well.

Author's Bio:

Melonie Dodaro, of Top Dog Social Media, is passionate about social
media and helps business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals to use
social media marketing to boost their visibility, attract new customers
and increase their revenue. Dubbed by the media as Canada’s #1 LinkedIn
expert and social media strategist, she’s also a regular contributor to
several social media and business magazines and is a highly sought after
speaker and trainer. To learn more about Melonie visit her web site at
http://TopDogSocialMedia.com

2. Wednesday, March 14, 2018 -The NNHS Class of June 1942
meets at noon on the second Wednesday of every other month
for a Dutch treat lunch at the James River Country Club,
1500 Country Club Road. PLEASE JOIN THEM. Give or take a few
years makes no difference. Good conversation, food and
atmosphere. For details, call Jennings Bryan at 803-7701 for
reservations.